# NTSB ERA23LA111: Piper PA-28-160, N5841W, Somerville, TN, January 10, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 10, 2023, 16:43 local (22:43 UTC) - Place: Somerville, TN - Coordinates: 35.217222, -89.380019 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2172&lon=-89.3800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106583 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106583/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106583 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA111 ## Probable cause Based on available evidence, the reason for the damage to the airplane’s propeller and engine cowling could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102806), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7102806), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an instructional flight, while flying on the left downwind leg of the traffic pattern at an altitude of about 1,000 ft above the ground, the flight instructor and the student pilot heard a momentary grinding noise of what sounded like "metal on metal." The flight instructor described that the noise lasted no more than 2 to 3 seconds and immediately abated. The flight instructor and student did not see anything approaching the airplane or its flight path before the noise occurred, nor did they report any sensation similar to an impact. The flight instructor and student pilot subsequently landed the airplane without issue and during a postflight inspection with the airplane’s owner, the flight instructor noted damage to the right side of the engine cowling and substantial damage to the inboard aft face of one of the propellor blades. There were no visible blood or bird remains present on the propeller or cowling. The flight instructor and airplane owner postulated that the airplane may have impacted an unmanned aerial system (UAS), and the airplane owner subsequently coordinated a ground search for debris in the days following the accident; however, no UAS components was located. Review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records revealed that no Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability authorizations were requested for the area at the time of the accident, nor had any UAS operational waivers had been filed with the FAA for operation in the area at the time of the accident. Given all available information, the reason that the airplane’s engine cowling and propeller were damaged during the flight could not be definitively determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5841W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5841W), registered now, S/N 28-2216, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-160) (registry code 7102806) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-2216 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 3920.8 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: First Team Pilot Training LLC, doing business as First Team Pilot Training - Registered owner: Destination Flyer LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FYE, Fayette County, runway 19, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 34; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 3, 2022; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 560 total, 55 in this make and model, 454 as pilot in command, 162 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 38 total, 8.5 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: OLV, 24 nm away - METAR: KOLV 102250Z 20010KT 10SM OVC018 15/12 A2996 ## Other investigations on N5841W (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB MIA65D0078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA65D0078), Apr 26, 1965: Piper PA-28 (N5841W), Hamilton, AL, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106583. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15112702&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N5841W%20incident%20report-p_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 498 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15111620&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - laanc and UAS waiver requests to FAA (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15617363&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-B_Soper-R_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 327 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15113226&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-S_Morgan_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� airplane owner (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15617495&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Gee%20-%20Search_Redacted-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.